Artificial intelligence consumes so much energy that data centers to develop the technology in Europe are expected to need almost three times as much energy by 2030, according to a study published today by consulting firm McKinsey.

According to this research, electricity demand is projected to exceed 150 terawatt-hours (TWh) by 2030 from 62 TWh currently.

This means that about 5 percent of total energy consumption in Europe will go to artificial intelligence, while it currently consumes about 2 percent, the study says.

According to the study, artificial intelligence's growing need for electricity could accelerate climate change if not powered by renewable energy sources. Currently, most of the electricity for data centers still comes from fossil fuels.

"The growing demand for clean electricity brings significant challenges," said McKinsey partner Diego Hernandez Diaz.

Reliable energy sources are only available to a limited extent, he notes. In addition, there are obstacles in the availability of skilled workers.

The study also shows that the additional demand for green electricity requires large investments in renewable energy sources.